Automatic turntable for model railways



Feb. 24, 1953 G. s. SEIDEL 2,529,336

AUTOMATIC TURNTABLE FOP. MODELIRAILWAYS Filed Oct. 20, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 1 TSI INVENTOR. GERALD S. SEIDEL AT1 OR NEY.

Feb. 24, 1953 G. s. SEIDEL 2,629,336

AUTOMATIC TURNTABLE FOR MODEL RAILWAYS Filed Oct. 20, 1950 s Shets-$heet 2 .5 I INVENTOR. 2 GERALD s. SEIDEL 2 BY ATTORNEY.

Feb. 24, 1953 G. s. SEIDEL 2,629,336

AUTOMATIC TURNTABLE FOR MODEL RAILWAYS Filed Oct. 20; 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.6

INVENTOR. GERALD S. SEIDEIL ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 24, 1953 AUTOMATIC TURNTABLE FOR MODEL RAILWAYS Gerald S. Seidel, Norristown, Pa.

Application October 20, 1950, Serial No. 191,173

12 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic turntables for model electric railway systems.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a turntable for model electric railway systems which may be automatically moved to the desired position and stopped at to provide an automatic turntable for model electric railway systems in which positive driving mechanism is provided, operable at a desired range of speeds, and in which the driving motor is provided with a brake for, quick and exact stopping.

Other objects and: advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a model electric railway system having the turntable in accordance with the present invention installed therein;

Fig. 2 is an underneath plan view'of the platform or movable table portion of the turntable; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken.

approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the turntable in accordance with thepresent invention preferably includes a pit P and, movable therein as hereinafter explained, a table or platform T. i

The pit P preferablyis made as a box having a horizontal rectangular bottom wall or base Id, of non-conducting material such as wood, on whicha circular mounting strip H, of non-con- 2 ducting material, such as wood, is secured. The strip i! has mounted thereon circular pit rail sections l2 and IZa, of electrical conducting material, separated by two diametrically opposite breaks [3 and 14, formed in any desired manner, such as by saw cuts, to interrupt the current flow, and maintain the desired polarity, as hereinafter explained. Surrounding the mounting strip H. a circular wall [5 is provided, of any desired, and preferably non-conducting material, terminating at its upper edge at a horizontal. cover portion l8, preferably of wood or other suitable nonconducting material on which the rails of the track layout with which the turntable is employed may be secured. The pit P may also have vertical side walls It extending from the bottom wall It to the cover portion [6.

The cover portion l6 has mounted thereon spaced and insulated conducting rails constituting a yard track section TSI- with rails T5111 and TSlb, preferably has a roundhouse track section T32 diametrically opposite thereto with spaced and insulated conducting track rails TSZa and T321), and may have a number of additional 1 radially extending and oppositely disposed track sections, illustrated as 'IS3 to T82 4, inclusive, each with corresponding spaced and insulated conducting rails TS3a and T33?) to TSMa and T8242), inclusive.

For purposes of clarity certain of the subsidiary designations, such as those of the track rails and duplicated conductors have been omitted from the drawings.

The base II], at the central portion thereof, is provided with a hollow post 28 which is secured in position by an upper nut 21 and a lower nut 22 in engagement with a threaded lower end 23 of the post 2; The post 2a is preferably of electrical conducting material and is adapted to have an electrical conductor 25 connected thereto and held in position by a nut 22a. The central opening in the post 20 is adapted to have an electrical conductor 26 extending therethrough, and insulated therefrom, with an insulated contact 2? at the upper end thereof. The base ID is provided with a plurality of pins TPl to TP24, inclusive, one for each track section TS, the pins TP being oiiset clockwise from the center of the track section TS at which the table T is to stop, ashereinafter pointed out. Each opposite pair of pins IT, is connected by a conductor 28, for purposes to be explained.

The table T preferably includes an upper rela tively rigid wall portion 30, of non-conducting material and preferably formed of plywood or the like, beneath which a mounting plate 3! is provided, preferably of conducting material. At the central portion of the table T, and on the lower face of the mounting plate *3! a metallic bracket 32, is provided, having an ofiset lower portion .33,

' 3 with bifurcated ends 34 extending horizontally on opposite sides of the post 25 to prevent sidewise displacement. The bracket 32 holds a spring contact 35- in position, the spring contact 35' and bracket 32 being connected to the mounting plate 3| in electrical conducting relation and engaging the central post 20 for establishing a 44,-the shaft 44 being carried in a bracket 45 secured to the mounting plate 3|. A driving roller 46, for driving engagement with the pit rail I2 is secured to the shaft 44. The driving roller 46 may be of any desired insulating material, vbut is preferably formed of a suitable V synthetic plastic material, and may if desired be of rubber, synthetic or natural, having a sufficiently resilient exterior face to frictionally engage with the pit rail l2.

Contiguous to the bracket 45, a spring contact 41 is provided for engagement with the pit rail l2, the contact 41 being insulated from the mounting plate 3| and having an electrical conductor 48 extending therefrom and upwardly through the wall 30. r

At the opposite end of the table T, a bracket 50 is provided on the lower face of the mounting plate 3 I, having a roller I, preferably of the same character as the roller 46, mounted therein. Contiguous to the bracket 50, a spring contact 52 is provided insulated from the plate 5|, for engagement with the pit rail l2, and having an in-' sulated electrical conductor 53 extending there from and upwardly through the wall 30.

On the upper horizontal face of the wall 36, spaced and insulated track rails'54 and 55 are provided, of electrical conducting material, to

which the conductors 48 and 53 are respectively connected for energizing the rails 54 and 55, as hereinafter explained.

Adjacent the bracket 50, a bracket GU is provided, on the lower face of the mounting plate 3| and electrically insulated therefrom, and having downwardly extending bracket arms 50a. Within the bracket arms Ella, a switch actuator 6|, of conducting material is slidably mounted. The switch actuator 6| has an inner vertical end portion 62, and a horizontal terminal portion 63' which serves as a limit stop upon engagement with the inner bracketarm"60a. The switch ment with a gear 43 secured on a driving shaft 7 actuator has an outer or free end 'BIa' of flat V- a ductor 6'], connected to the other of the contacts of the switch 64, extendsto contact bracket 68 carried on the'plate 3|, and insulated therefrom, with which the contact 21 engages.

The motor shaft 3'! is preferably provided with a brake collar .16 having a friction insert therein and an outwardly projecting screw H which is adapted for tightening the friction insert against the shaft 37 and for abutment, upon rotation of the shaft 31 against the outer of the brackets 4|. r r

In order to provide power for actuation of the motor 36 and for energization of the track rails,

any suitable source S of electric energy, such as p 1 direct currentor rectified alternating current is The power lead 14 is preferably connected to one 7 of the sections of the pit rail, such as the section l2a, and the power lead 151s preferably connected to the other pit rail section.

The conductor 14 is connected to the rail TSIb. A conductor 19 is provided connecting the rail TSlb to the opposite rail TS2b. A conductor 11 is provided, extending from the conductor I5 to the track rail TSla, beyond an insulating break 18 in the rail, and a conductor 85 is provided connecting the opposite rails TSla and TSZa. The opposite rails of the opposite track sections, such as TS3 and TS|4, and T54 and TSIE, etc. are similarly connected.

The other contacts of the switch DRS have the conductors 25 and 26 connected thereto.

In order to control the selective movement of the table T and the energization of the track sections TSI .and TS24, inclusive, in pairs, a control switch CS is provided. V

The control switch CS has a pair of banks of contacts indicated as A and B. The bank of contacts A preferably includes a contact arm 8| which is adapted to be connected by an annular contact bar 82 movable therewith, to all of a plurality of contacts ACI to ACI2, inclusive,

' except a selected one. The contact arm 8| is connected by a conductor 83 to the same contact of the switch DRS as that to which the'conductor 25 is connected. The contacts AC! to ACIZ, inclusive, are respectively connected, by conductors such as the conductor 84, to respective pairs of pins TP, the conductor 84 being shown as connected to pin TPI' (which is'in turn connected to pinTPZ by its conductor 28). h

The bank of contacts B preferably includes a contact arm 85 to which a conductor'st extends from the contact of the switch DRS to which the conductor 15 is connected. The contact arm 85 is adapted to selectively engage one of a lurality of contacts BC| to BC|2, inclusive. The contacts BCI to BCIZ, inclusive, are respectively connected by conductors such as the conductor 81, to one of the rails, such as the rail TS! a inwardly of the insulating break '18. The contact arms 8! and 85 are connected together for rotary movement by a shaft 53, having an operating and indicating knob or handle 89, at the front end thereof, and a position indicating dial 9D, for

indicating the position of the contact arms 8| and 85.

The mode of operation of the turntable will no be pointed out.

With" power supplied from the power sou ce S through the power leads 12 and i3 and the rheostat 14 and with a polarity as determined by the reversing switch RS, power will be supaeeasae done by turning the shaft 88 to a position to bring the contact arm 85 into engagement with the contact BCl. The roundhouse track section TSZ will be simultaneously energized through the conductors I9 and 80. polarity of the rails 54 and 55 on the table T will be determined by the engagement of the contacts 41 and 52 with the respective sections The energization and of the pit rail I2. When the locomotive has been moved onto the rails 54 and 55, the energizing circuit to the rails may then, if turning of the table T is desired, be interrupted by movement of the switch DRS.

The circuit for energizing the motor 36, which includes the contacts AC1 to ACI 2, inclusive, and the conductors and 26 is dependent upon the positioning of the switch DRS in the opposite position to that referred to above for track circuit energization.

If it is desired to move the table T, the switch I CS is positioned to move the contact arm 81; to a position corresponding to that to which the table T is to be moved. In this connection it will be noted that a motor energizing circuit is set up through the conductors 25 and 26,.' which includes, in series therewith, the switch 64. The switch 64 is normally effective to permit energization of the motor 36 except when the switch actuator is in engagement with a de- I energized pin TP.

With the motor 36 operated and turning the table T, as the switch actuator engages a pin TP it breaks the circuit through the switch 64, and if the pin TP is energized, an alternative energizing circuit is setup through the energized pin TP, the switch actuator 61., and conductor 65, to maintain the motor 36 energized. particular pin T)? is unenergized, by reason of the positioning of the contact :bar 82, the table T will stop at that location.

It will be noted that the swtich RS permits of reversal of polarity of the motor energizing current so that, by selection of the direction of,

If 'a.

rotation, the table T may be turnedin the direction required, i. e. clockwise or counterclockwise as the case may be, to bring it to the unenergized" pin TP for the track section TS atwhich stop ping is desired.

The rheostat M may be employed for regulat ing the speed of movement of the table "T as well as the speed of movement of the 'trainonto and from the track sections TS and. the rails 54 and 55.

The brake collar 10 and its abutment and adjusting screw H effect instant stopping of the motor 35, if desired, and prevent overrunning of the table T, so that upon stopping of the table T, the rails 54 and 55 will be alined with the rails of the particular track section TS at which the stop is made. The pins TP may be bent slightly if desired to provide a close stopping adjustment.

The brake collar 10 is .not always necessary with the table T loaded but is desirable for 013313 ation without any locomotive on the tracks it and 55. The collar 10 must not be too tight or overheating of the motor 36 may occur with prolonged operation.

It will be noted that the switch actuator 6| has a loose fit in the bracket arms 60a, the lost motion thereby provided also facilitating stopping with the rails 54 and 55 in proper alinement with the rails of an appropriate track section TS.

When the table 'I' has been moved to the desired position and has stopped it will remain in this position. Upon movement of the switch DRS to its initial energizing position, and with the switch RS positioned as desired to give the desired polarity, the locomotive will then be energized from the rails '54 and 55 to move onto the desired track section TS.

It will be noted that while only twelve positions are shown for the control switch CS it is possible to move the table T for delivery of the locomotive onto any one of twenty-four loca-.

tions, this being possible by reason of the interconnection of opposite pins TP and the reversibility of the motor '36 which permits the approach to the appropriate unenergized pin Tl? corresponding to the selected delivery position from a direction such that it will not be necessary to strike the opposite and unenergized pin TIP.

1 claim:

1. In a turntable for model railway systems having a pit with track section rails leading thereto, and a motor driven table with. spaced rails thereon rotatable in said pit, the combination comprising connections to a source or" electrical energy, a control member connected to said connections and having a plurality of contact positions, contact members for one of said contact positions connected to said motor, addi tional contact members for another of said contact positions connected to rails of the track sections, and a multiple position controller having members for determining the energization of the track actions and for determining the stopping location of said. table.

2. In a turntable for model railway systems having a pit with track section rails leading thereto and a motor driven table with spaced track rails thereon rotatable in said pit, the combination comprising connections to a source of electrical energy, a polarity reversing member interposed in said connections, a control member connected to said connections having a plurality of contact positions, contact members :for one of said contact positions connected to said motor, additional contact members for another of said contact positions connected to rails of the track sections, and a multiple position controller having contact members for determining the energization of the track sections and contact members for determining the stopping location of said table.

3. In a turntable for model railway systems having a pit with a pit rail therein and with track section rails leading thereto and a motor driven table with spaced track rails thereon rotatable in said pit, the combination comprising connections to a source of electrical energy, a polarity reversing member interposed in said connections, a control member connected to said connections having a plurality of contact positions, contact members for one of said contact positions connected to said motor, additional contact .mem bers for another of said contact positions connected to rails of the track sections, and la 7 multiple position controller having members for determining the energization of the track sections and track rails.

4. In a turntable for model railway systems having a pit with track section rails leading thereto and a motor driventable with spaced track rails thereon rotatable in said pit, the combination comprising connections to a source of electrical energy, a control member connected to said connections having a plurality of contact positions, contact members for one of said contact positions connected to said motor, additional contact members for another of said contact posi-- tions connected to rails of the track sections, and a'multiple position controller connected to said motor and having members for determining the stopping location of said table.

5. In a turntable for model railway systems having a pit with pit rail sections therein and having track section rails leading thereto and a motor driven table with spaced track rails thereon rotatable in said pit, the combination comprising connections to a source of electrical energy, a control member connected to said connections and having a plurality of contact positions, and contact members for one of said contact positions connected to said pit rail sections, contact members on said table for engagement with said pit rail sections, and connections from said last named contacts to said track rails.

6. In a turntable for model railway systems having a pit with track section rails leading thereto and a motor driven table with spaced track rails thereon rotatable in said pit, the combination comprising connections to a source of electrical'energy, a control member connected to said connections having a plurality of contact positions, contact members for one of said con-- tact positions, circuit connections from said contact members to said motor including a central post in said pit.

'7. In a turntable for model railway systems having a pit with energizable pit rail sections therein and with pairs of track rails leading thereto and a table with spaced rails rotatable on said pit rail sections in said pit, the combination comprising abutments in said pit corresponding to eachof said pairs of track rails, contacts for engagement with said pit rail sections for energizing said spaced rails, a motor on said table, a driving connection from said motor to said pit rail sections, and means on said table and. controlled by said abutments for effecting energization of said motor.

8. In a turntable for model railway systems having a pit with electrically separated energizable pit rail sections therein and with track rails leading thereto and a table with spaced rails rotatable on said pit rail sections in said- 9. In a' turntable for model railway systems having a pit with track rails leading thereto and with abutment members therein and a table with spaced rails rotatable in said pit, the combination comprising means for selectively controlling the energization of said abutment members, a motor on said table, a drivingjconnection Ircm said motor for rotating said table, and circuit controlling means on said table for effecting energization of said motor, including normally closed contacts operable upon engagement with a deenergized one of said abutment members for effecting deenergization of said motor.

10. In a turntable for model railway systems having a pit with track section rails leading thereto and a motor driven table with spaced track rails thereon rotatable in said pit, the combination comprising connections to a source of electrical'energy, a control member connected to' said'connectiong having a plurality of contact positions, contact members for one of said contact positions connected to said motor, abutment members for each of said track sections carried by said pit, contacts carried by said table and actuated by said abutment members for interrupting the circuit to said motor, and a multiple position controller having circuit connections foriselectively energizing said motor and thereby determining the stopping location of said table.

11. In a turntable for model railway systems having a bit with track section rails leading thereto and a motor driven table with spaced track rails thereon rotatable in said pit, the combination comprising connections to a source of electrical energy, a control member connected to said connections having a plurality of contact positions, contact members for one of said contact positions connected to said motor, abutment members for each of saidtrack sections carried by said pit, contacts carried by said table and actuated by said abutment members for interrupting the circuit to said motor, and a multiple position controller'having circuit connections for selectively energizing said abutment members to set up alternative energizing circuits therethrough and thereby determining the stopping location of said table. V

12. In'a turntable for model railway systems having a pit with diametrically opposite track section rails leading thereto and a motor driven table with spaced track rails thereon rotatable in said pit, the combination comprising connections to a source of electrical energy, a control member connected to said connections having a plurality of contact positions, contact mem bers for one of said contact positions connected to said motor, abutment members carried by said pit for each of said track sections having diametrically opposite pairs electrically connected, contacts carried by said table and successively actuated by said abutment members for interrupting the circuit to said motor, bypass circuit connections for said contacts, and a multiple position controller having circuit connections for selectively energizing said abutment members and said bypass circuit connections, said controller having an energized connection to said abutment members thereby determining the stopping location of the table.

GERALD s. 'SEIDEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

